Conveying apparatus



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CONVEYING APPARATUS.

No. 582,809. Patented May 18,1897.

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Patented May 18, 1897.

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CONVEYING APPARATUS.

Noe 582,809.

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CONVEYING APPARATUS. No. 582,809. Patsnted May 18,1897.

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UNITED STATES JAMES T. COVLEY, OF LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THELAMSON CONSOLIDATED STORE SERVICE COMPANY, OF NEWARK,

NEV JERSEY.

CONVEYING APPARATUS.

- -SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,809, dated May18, 1,897.

Application filed May 18, 1895. Serial No. 549,816. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that 1, JAMES T. CowLEY, of Lowell, county of Middlesex, andState of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements inConveying Apparatus; and I hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable othersskilled` in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. A

My invention relates to conveying apparatus for transporting parcelsfrom one point to another, and it is especially adapt-ed for conveyingcash and parcels from one ioor or one track-level to another above orbelow.

My invention consists of certain novel features, arrangements, andcombinations hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings,which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 isa side elevation of the elevator with portions of the tracks above andbelow, and also showing one elevator in position to receive the carrierfrom the lower forwarding-trackand another elevator in position toreturn the carrier onto the main return-track. Fig. 2 is a similar viewto that shown Ain Fig. 1, but showing one elevator raised from alnementwith the lower forwarding-track up to alinement with theforwarding-track located above and showing another elevator in alinementwith the main return-track above. Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view takenon the line b b, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional plan View taken on theline a a., Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is an end view of one of the elevators, partlyin section, taken on the line c c, Figs. 1 and Fig. 6 is a side view ofthe carrier of usual construction. Fig. 7 is a side view of the terminalplaced at the end of the line on the upper floor, showing an elevatorfor transferring the carrier from the lower forwarding-line on the upperoor to the upper return-line on the same tloor. Fig. S is a plan view ofthe same on line d d, Fig. 7, or line e e,Fig. 11. Fig. 9 is a detailview of the support for the ends of the forwardingtrack. Fig. 10 is adetail view of the elevatorsupporting catch. Fig. 11 is a front end vie7of Fig. 7 in the direction indicated by the arrow. Figs. 12, 13, 14, and15 are detail views of the parts of the terminal station hereinafterreferred to. Figs. 16,17, 1S, 19, 20, and 2l represent certain views ofthe elevator-carriage-operating mechanism, in which Fig. 16 representsan end View; Fig. 17, a longitudinal sectional view on the line CZ' d ofFig. 18. Fig. 18 shows a plan view in section on the line g g of Fig.17. Fig. 19 is a front view of the elevator-operating mechanism, showingthe belt-shifting mechanism. Fig. 20 is a sectional view of the clutchmechanism on the line e e of Fig. 1S, and Fig. 21 is a crossseetion ofthe clutch mechanism on the line ff of Fig. 20.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts throughout the severalviews.

Supported by the main forwarding-track A near the elevator is a catchA2, whichvpasses through a sleeve A4, provided with a spring A5 andcollarAG. This sleeve A4 is supported on the shaft A3, mounted in thelugs A7, which are fastened to the track A. Mounted on the end of theshaft A3 is a lever A3, to theend of which is pivotally secured the rodA9, the opposite end of which is pivotally secured to the bell-cranklever A10, having a pin A11 in position to be engaged by theelevator-track B when the elevator reaches its lowest position.

When the elevator is in its lowest position, the pin A11 of thebell-crank lever A10 is pressed downward, which moves with it the rod A9and lever A3, which is fastened to the shaft A3. This movement carriesdown the catch A2 out of engaging position with the axle y of thecarrier y, which is guided in its travel by the guides A as it movesdown the track A toward the elevator B. This lcatch A3, being presseddownward out of engaging position with the axle y of the carrier, allowsthe carrier y to pass onto the elevatortrack B. As the carrier passesonto the elevator-track B the forward end of the carrier strikes a leverF, mounted in the lug F', secured upon a suitable support. As thecarrier strikes this lever F the lever is pushed backward, which moveswithit the rod F3, one end of which is fastened to the bell-crank leverF3. To the opposite end of this bellcrank lever F3 is secured the rodF4, which extends upwardly and is fastened to the catch IOO 2 ssasoe F5,supported on the lug F6 and provided with the lower catch F7. Vhen thislever F is moved by the carrier through the connections just described,the catch F7 is moved out of engagement with the catch F 8 on the slideF21, which allows the slide F21 to drop until arrested by the stop F12.This slide F21 carries with it an arm F11, through which passes the rodF111, which extends downwardly and operates to start and stop theelevatoroperating mechanism hereinafter described. lVhen this slide F21is dropped from engagement with the catch F7 to the' position shown inFig. l and the elevator-operating mechanism is thrown into operation,the elevator, with the track B guided upon the elevator guide-rods C',supported by suitable braces E E' E2, is raised to alinement with theforwarding-track G above. (Shown in full lines, Fig. 2.) As the elevatorapproaches this position it carries with it the slide F21, carrying therod F10 up so as to again engage with the catch F7, and this movement ofthe slide F21 will throw off the power from the elevatoroperatingmechanism and the elevator will be allowed to settle down to alnementwith the track G and will be supported in this position by the catch F11catching under the lug B5 on the elevator, as shown in full lines, Fig.2. This upward movement of the elevator is given by the operating-cablesD D, which are secured to the yoke B5 on the elevator (see Fig. 5) andpass upward over suitable pulleys D2 and D5, supported on the crossbraceE2, and extend downwardly to suitable drums on the elevator-operatin gmechanism. This elevator-operating mechanism, which is shown in Figs. 1Gto 2l, inclusive, is constructed as follows:

Upon the base N1 are fastened two stands N5, and in the upper end ofthese stands is journaled the shaft N2, upon each end of which aremounted drums N N1. These drums are provided with suitable spiralgrooves upon which the lifting-cables D D' wind. Upon the center of thisshaft N2 is mounted a hub N1', and upon this hub is mounted a gear-wheelN5 and also a friction-plate N2. Between the Iiange of the hub N5 andthe gear N5 and also between the friction-plate N8 and gear N5 areplaced two leather disks N7. Fitting in a recess in the friction-plateN8 is a spring-plate N11, provided with springs N10, which engage withthe friction-plate N11. One end of the enlarged portion of the shaft N2is threaded to receive the nut N11, which bears upon the hub of thespring-plate ND and is adapted to give the proper tension to thespringsN10. UponthebaseN1arealsomounted two stands N12, 1o the upperends of which are fastened a stationary shaft N13, and upon this shaftare loosely mounted pulleys N11 and The pulley N15 is mounted on a hubN15, provided with a gear N17, which engages with the large gear N Uponone end of this hub N11 is mounted a clutch N12, formed to receive theballs N21, and a plate N15 holds the balls N21 in place. The clutch N111enters into a recess in the pulley N20, which is also loosely mounted onthe shaft N15.

From the base N1 extends a stand O5, provided with a stud O2, upon whichis journaled a belt-shifter O, formed at its top withasuitable yokethrough which the belt N23 passes. From the lower end of this lever Oextends an arm O', to which is attached the link O1, Fig. 19, and theopposite end of this link is fastened to the lever O5. One end of thisle ver O5 is journaled upon the stand O5, and the opposite end extendsupward to receive a loose stud O7, to which is attached one end of therod F10. The pulleys N11 and N15are provided with the straight belt N25,and the pulley N211is provided with a cross-belt N22, so that the pulleyN2O will revolve in an opposite direction from the pulleys N14 and N15,and the arrangement of the clutch N111 is such that the pulley N211 isfree to revolve in a direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2O whenthe hoisting mechanism is not in operation.

To' the base N1 is fastened the stand O11, Fig. 19, to the upper end ofwhich is journaled an arm O11 upon the stud O1 and provided at its upperend with a pulley O12, which is held in contact with the belt N22 by thespring O10, Fig. 19. Fastened to thearm O11 is a hook O15, projectingoutward and in position to engage the pins O11 on the pulley N20, Figs.16 and 18, should the belt N22 become displaced. The object of thisis toprovide a safety-stop to catch and hold the pulley N211 in ease the beltN22 should break or run olf or become displaced.

In operation the lever O5 is normally held in a raised position by therod F10, and in this position the belt N25 runs upon the pulley N14 andthe elevator-lifting mechanism remains idle.

When the carrier runs on the elevator-earria-ge B and strikes the leverF, through the connections F2, F5, F1, F5, and F21, the rod F11 isdropped and the lever O5 is lowered, and the yoke of the belt-shiftinglever O moves the belt from the pulleyN1'1 to the pulley N15. The leverF and the connections F2, F5, F1, F5, and F21 thus constitute meanswhereby the mechanism for moving the elevator is actuated by the carrierpassing onto said elevator. This pulley N15 being attached to the hubN15 and gear N11 this gear is revolved and moves with it the gear N5,and the gear N5 carries with it the hub N6 by the contact of the leatherfriction-disks N7. This hub N5 is secured to the shaft N2, upon which ismounted the drums N and N'. Around these drums N and N thelifting-cables D D are wound, which pass upwardly over pulleys D2 andD5. The opposite ends of these liftingcables are attached to the yoke B5of the elevator-carriage, Fig. 5, and by the operation of these drums Nand N by the pulley N15 IOO IIO

D D mechanism is provided for operating the elevator and moving theelevator-carriage. The cross-belt N22, working on the pulley N20,revolves the pulley N20 in an opposite direction to the pulleys N14 andN15. The object of this pulley N20 and clutch N13 working within thepulley is to govern the downward movement of the elevator-carriage andprevent the same from moving beyond a certain speed.

When the elevator-carriage B is released from the catch Il (see Fig. 2)by the carrier striking the lever L7, (see Fig. 4,) the weight of theelevator-carriage and the carrier combined is sufficient to turn thedrums N and N4 to unwind the cable therefrom and revolve the drums in anopposite direction to that required to raise the elevator-carriage. Asthese drums revolve backward they carry with them the shaft N2 and gearN5, engaging with the gear N17, upon the hub of which is mounted theclutch N13. This movement of the clutch N18 is in the same direction asthe pulley N20 is traveling, and the clutch N13 is so arranged thatshould the downward movement of the elevator cause the clutch N18 torevolve faster than the pulley N20 the clutch-balls N21 will wedge uponthe inclined portion of the clutch N13and check the downward movement ofthe elevator. By this it will be seen that the downward movement of theelevator is controlled by the speed of the pulley N20, operated by thecross-belt N22, while the drums N and N are free to be revolved to raisethe elevator-carriage.

The carrier is held on the elevator-track B in its upward movement bythe catch B0, engaging with the forward axle 'y' of the carrier. Thiscatch B6 is mounted on the shaft B7 on the elevator, (see Fig. 5,) andis provided with a spring B3 on the shaft B7. This catch has an arm B12,which extends downwardly and engages with the lugs B10 on the rod B11,which is supported on the side of the elevator-frame B4. This rod B11 isprovided with a catch B13 at its upper end, which catch engages with andis lifted by the catch F14, whiehsupports the elevator in its raisedposition. As this catch B13 is lifted, carrying with it the rod B11 andthe arm B12 ofthe catch B0, the catch'B6 is lowered out of engagementwith the forward axle y of the carrier, and the carrier is allowed topass onto the upper forwarding-track G.

As the carrier passes along the track G the axle y of the carrierengages with the finger F22, supported on the shaft F10, mounted in thelug F20 and secured to the track G. (See Fig. l.) Secured upon the endof this shaft F10 is a lever F13, and to the end of this lever issecured a rod F17. This rod F17 extends outwardly and is fastened at itsopposite end to the catch F14.

As the aXle y of the carrier y engages with the linger F22 and pushes itforward as it travels over the track G through the connections on theshaft F19 and lever F1s and rod F17 the catch F14 is pushed out ofengagement with the lug B3 on the elevator-frame B4 and the elevator isallowed to descend to its normal position, as shown in full lines, Fig.l.

The carrier will then pass along over the track G until it approaches astation or terminal when it will then leave the track G and pass ontothe track G and will be arrested by the guide-rails G2, supported at therear end by the brace G3.

The track G is supported, Figs. 7 and 11, by a suitable frame G4 andsecured thereto by bolts G10, and said frame is adapted to slide uponthe guides G5. This 'frame isfprovided at its top with a pulley G0,around which a suitable cord GT passes, and one end of said cord isfastened at G21 to the yoke G20 on the frame G4. This cord passesupwardly over a suitable pulley G22 and downwardly under pulley GG onthe top of the frame G4, and then said cord passes upwardly aroundpulley G10 and downwardly through an eye on the end of the arm G0 and isprovided with a handle G3, by which the elevator may be raised to theposition shown in dotted lines, Fig. 7, in alinement with the upperreturntrack K. From the bottom of this elevatorframe G4 there extends arod J, upon the end of which is mounted a plunger J2, Fig. 13, which isadapted to work in an air-chamber J to regulate the rising and loweringof the elevator-frame G4. This rod J is provided with a notch J 3, Fig.l0, to be engaged by the end of the rod J 4 when theelevator is raisedto alinelnent with the track K. This rod J4, mounted in the supports J 3and J 0, by engaging with the notch J3 on the rod J, will support theelevator-frame G4 in its raised position.

After the carriery has been forwarded over the return-track K theelevatoris released from its raised position bythe attendant pulling onthe handle J7, mounted on the end of the rod J4, and the rod J4 ispulled out of engagement with the notch J3 and the elevator is allowedto descend. When the attendant releases the handle J7, the action of thespring J 3, engaging with the collar J 0 on the rod J4, will return therod J4 to its original position, ready to again engage with the notch J3 when the elevator is again raised. Vhen the elevator is in its lowestposition, the ends of the track G' will rest upon the support H3,mounted on the rods H2, which are supported by the base H. This supportalso supports the ends of the track G, and the track G andelevator-track G' are therefore held in alinement with each other.

The elevator-carriage G4 is provided with a pin G13. (See Figs. 7 and15.) This pin extends outwardly in position to engage with the end ofthe dog G14 in its upward movement and will raise the end of the dogG14, mounted on the stud G15, Fig. l2, as the elevator is raised toalinement with the upper return-track K. This movement of t-he dog` G14will, by engagement with the lever G16, mounted on the stud G17, movethe rod G13in IOS IIO

ITS

the direction indicated by the arrow a, Fig. 7. This rod G18 extendsoutwardly along the track G, andthe opposite end is pivotallysecured tothe catch F11, mounted on the lug F11". The movement of this rod G18, asbefore described, will therefore move the catch F1'1 out of engagementwith the lugB on the elevator-frame B1 and will release the elevatorfrom its raised position should the elevator fail to have been releasedby the carrier passing over the track G and engaging with the trip F21,as before described.

As lthe carrier passes over the return-track K and passes onto theelevator-track L, as shown in full lines in Fig. 2, the forward end ofthe carrier will engage with the end Ln of the lever L1', mounted in thelug L8, to which is secured the fiat spring L10, having its free endsbearing against the framework L11, and said spring' assists in returningthe lever L7 toits normal position, Figs. 2 and l. This lever L7, bytheaction of the carrier, will be pushed backward and will carry with itthe rod L, which is fastened to the elevator-supporting catch L3,mounted in the lug L1, provided with the spring L, and theelevatorcarriage, with the carrier, will be allowed to descend to theposition shown in full lines, Fig. l. The movement of the saidelevatortrack L is controlled through the medium of the elevating cablesD" and D, passing over the pulleys D7 and DS and then downwardly toindependent mechanism similar to the mechanism previously described forthe cables D and D.

\Vhen the carrier reaches the position shown in full lines, Fig. l, inalinement with the track M, and the carrier has passed onto the track M,the axle of the carrier will engage with the finger BF, secured to theshaft M2, mounted upon the lugs M3, and will move the finger M forwardin the direction the carrier is traveling. This movement will carry withit the rod M4, one end of which is secured to the bell-crank lever M5.To the opposite end of the bell-crank lever M5 is secured the rod M,which extends upwardly and is secured to the arm MT of the catch M",mounted in the lug MS. This forward movement of the finger M', carryingwith it the rods M1 and M1i and operating the catch M", will release thecatch M" from the eat-ch M1O on t-he slide M11 and will allow the slideM11 to drop to the position shown in Fig. l. Secured to the slide M11 isthe arm M12, through which passes the rod M111, provided at its up perend with a spring i111 and collar M15. 'lhis rod M13 passes downwardlyto a suitable elevator-operating mechanism, the sam'e as beforedescribed for the other elevator, and the downward movement of this rodM13 will act to start the elevator-operating mechanism and return theelevator L to its normal position in alinelnent with the track K, andthe carrier will travel along the track M to its destination.

From the foregoing it will be understood that the elevators for theforwarding-track and for the return-track are entirely independent ofone another, and the object of using` independent elevators is to form acontinuous line, both forward and return, over which the carriers may bcmoved from one end of the line to the other, and the elevator of theforwarding-track is for the purpose of transferring only the carriersgoing forward and the elevator of the return-track is for the purpose oftransferring only the carriers returning to the home station along thereturntrack, so that where the elevator of the forwarding-track hasreceived a carrier from one section of the forwarding-track andtransferred it to another section of said forwarding-track the carrier,upon passing olf of the elevator onto the forwarding-track, in itsmovement operates mechanism which causes the elevator to return toalinement with that section of the forwarding-track from which it movedand in position to receive another carrier going forward. Now referringto thc return-track, the elevatorof said return-track receives a carrierreturning and transfers it to alinement with another section of the retur11-track, and upon said carrier passing off onto said section itoperates mechanism which causes said elevator to return to alinementwith said section of the return-track from which it moved. Thus theelevator or elevators in the foiwvarding-track transfer the carriersgoing forward without regard to how they return and the elevator orelevators in the return-track transfer the carriers returning withoutregard as to how said carriers were forwarded, and thus each line, withits elevators, is entirely independent of one another.

In United States Letters Patent dated Jan uary 5, 1897, and numbered574,714, issued to the Lamson Consolidated Store Service'Company as myassignee, only one elevator for forwarding and returning the carriers isshown and described, and in said apparatus the elcvator receiving thecarrier moving along the forwarding track transfers it to a stationabove and at which there is shown a short track onto which the carrierruns; but said elevator remains in alinement with said short track untilthe carrier is pushed back onto said elevator, when the elevator movesto alinement with the return-track, and as the carrier passes onto thereturn-track it operates in its movement mechanism which causes saidelevator to return to alinement with the forwarding-track from which itfirst moved. In said patent the elevator is shown at the terminal of theline, whereas in this application the elevators are shown intermediateof the line, and there may be several elevators from the beginning tothe end of the line wherever it is necessary to transfer carriers fromone level to another.

I do not limit myself to the arrangement and construction shown, as thesame may be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus ascertained the nature of my invention and set forth aconstruction embodying the same, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

l. In a conveying apparatus, an upper and a lower forwarding-track, anelevator for receiving the carrier from the lower track and fortransferring it to the upper track, mechanism for moving said elevator,and mechanism actuated by t-he carrier for releasing said elevator fromalinement with the upper track and thereby allowing it to return toalinement with the lower track.

2. In a conveying apparatus, an upper and a lower forwarding-track, anelevator for receiving the carrier from the lower track and transferringit to the upper track, mechanism for moving said elevator, means wherebysaid mechanism is actuated by the carrier passing onto said elevator,and mechanism actuated by the carrier for releasing said elevator fromalinement with the upper track and thereby allowing it to return toalinement with the lower track.

3. In a conveying apparatus, a forwardingtrack, an upper and a lowerreturn-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from the upper trackand for conveying it to the lower track, and mechanism actuated by thecarrier for returning the said elevator to alinement with the uppertrack.

4. In a conveying apparatus, a forwardingtrack, an upper and a lowerreturn-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from the upper trackand for conveying it to the lower track, mechanism for moving saidelevator, and means whereby said mechanism is actuated by the carrierpassing o from said elevator for returning said elevator to alinementwith said upper track.

5. In a conveying apparatus, a forwardingtrack, an upper and a lowerreturn-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from the upper trackand for conveying it to the lower track,means for holding said elevatorin alinement with said upper track and adapted to be actuated by thecarrier passing onto said elevator to release said elevator from saidalinement, and to allow it to move into alinement with the lower track,means for holding said elevator in alinement with said lower track andadapted to be actuated by the carrier to release said elevator fromalinement with said lower track, mechanism for moving said elevator, andmeans whereby said mechanism is actuated by the carrier passing off fromsaid elevator to return said elevator to alinement with said uppertrack.

6. In a conveying apparatus, a forwardingtrack, an upper and a lowerreturn-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from the upper trackand for conveying it to the lower track, and mechanism actuated by thesame carrier for returning said elevator to alinement with said uppertrack.

7. In a conveying apparatus, a forwardingtrack, an upper and a lowerreturn-track, an elevator for receiving the carrier from the upper trackand for conveying it to the lower track, mechanism actuated by thecarrier for releasing said elevator, and mechanism actuated by the samecarrier for returning said elevator to alinement with the upper track.'

8. In a conveying apparatus, an upper and a lower forwarding-track, anelevator for receiving the carrier from one track and for transferringit to the other track, mechanism for moving said elevator, meansoperated by the movement of the elevator to stop the moving mechanismwhen the elevator has reached the other track, and mechanism actuated bythe carrier for releasing said elevator from alinement with said othertrack and thereby allowing it to return to alinement with the track fromwhich it received the carrier.

9. In a conveying apparatus, an upper and a lower forwarding-track, anelevator for receiving the carrier from one track and for transferringit to the other track, mechanism for moving said elevator, means wherebysaid mechanism is actuated by the carrier passing onto said elevator,means operated by the movement of the elevator to stop the movingmechanism when the elevator has reached the other track, and mechanismactuated by the carrier for releasing said elevator from alinement withsaid other track and thereby allowing it to return to alinement with thetrack from which it received the carrier.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 8th day of May, A. D.1895.

JAMES T. COVLEY.

Witnesses:

DELIA S. PETERSON, L. H. TRow.

IOO

